Many people are put off the idea of eating healthy because they think it’s only about eating pricey organic avocados flown directly in from Peru in every meal or fancy acai berry bowls that cost more than a night out. But eating healthy doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, with a bit of creativity and effort, you can easily eat food that’s good for you every day without breaking the bank!
Here are some easy tips to help you get started today.
Plan your meals in advance
Sure, meal planning might not be your idea of a fun night in. But this simple step will ensure you know exactly what ingredients you need to help you avoid impulse buys of much more expensive processed food. It’s also the best way to avoid ending up with more food than you can eat that ends up going bad. By planning, you can also ensure that you have a varied diet that meets all of your nutritional needs, and it will help you avoid getting bored with eating the same “go-to” meals all the time. Get into the habit of bookmarking any recipes you find that look both delicious and healthy so you have a repertoire to choose from when meal planning time comes around.
Buy in bulk
Buying larger quantities of food items usually works out much cheaper per unit. This tip is especially helpful if you have a large family to feed, but even if you’re cooking for one or two, buying in bulk can help you save money in the long run. Look for sales on healthy staples like whole grains, beans, and nuts, and stock up so you always have these ingredients on hand. Not only will this make cooking at home cheaper, but it will also encourage you to eat more home-cooked healthy meals rather than resort to frozen dinners.
Avoid food wastage
One of the biggest money-wasters when it comes to food, as well as being terrible for the environment, is letting perfectly good ingredients go to waste. If you see that you have more produce than you can eat, try cooking big batches of food and freezing it instead. This way, you can take it out and defrost it as needed without worrying about it going bad in your fridge. It’s also great to have a few recipes at hand to help you use up leftovers, like a frittata or “clean out the fridge” soup.
Buy from your local farmer’s market
Not only is buying locally produced food usually cheaper than getting it from the supermarket, but it’s also generally much fresher and of better quality.
Get to know your local farmers and ask them for tips on what’s in season and what’s a good deal. Seasonal produce is often much cheaper than items that have to be imported, so try to base your meals around what’s locally and seasonally available. Of course, if you’re looking for ways to eat healthy, another great tip is to ask the experts for help! Here at SAVOR we can deliver expertly prepared nutritional meals right to your doorstep to make healthy eating that little bit simpler.
Contact us today to see how our customized meal solutions can fit into your schedule and budget so that we can help you reach your health goals.